Earpiece with glucose sensor and system

ABSTRACT

An earpiece may include an earpiece housing, an intelligent control disposed within the earpiece housing, and a glucose sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control. The intelligent control may be configured to determine glucose levels associated with a user of the earpiece using the glucose sensor. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control. The glucose sensor may be a non-invasive glucose sensor such as a near infrared glucose sensor. The earpiece housing may be configured to position the glucose sensor against a wall of the external auditory canal.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/464,810, filed on Mar. 21, 2017 and claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/312,593, filed onMar. 24, 2016, and Earpiece with glucose sensor and system, herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND I. Field of the Disclosure

The illustrative embodiments relate to wearable devices. Moreparticularly, but not exclusively, the illustrative embodiments relateto earpieces.

II. Description of the Art

The growth of wearable devices is increasing exponentially. This growthis fostered by the decreasing size of microprocessors, circuitry boards,chips, and other components. The ear and ear canal provide a potentiallyrich environment for the collection of biometric data through the use ofwearable devices and, particularly, earpieces. One reason that the earis a rich environment for the collection of biometric data is that theear and ear canal have a rich blood supply at or near the surface of theskin. The blood supply is rich with a variety of biological compounds,including glucose. The detection and measurement of glucose is importantin many users, but especially those users and patients who aresusceptible to or are diagnosed with diabetes. Historically, glucosedetection has required invasive technologies to assist the user inobtaining an accurate measurement of blood glucose levels. Morerecently, however, technology and sensors are being developed whichallow for non-invasive approaches to blood glucose monitoring. What isneeded is an approach to utilize an earpiece sensor and system for thedetection of glucose levels of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage to improve overthe state of the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage to provide an earpiecesensor and system for the detection of glucose in the user.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage is to report theglucose level to the user.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages willbecome apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No singleembodiment need provide each or every one of these objects, features, oradvantages. Instead, different embodiments may have different objects,features, or advantages. The present invention is not to be limited byor to these objects, features, and advantages.

According to one aspect a wearable device includes a wearable devicehousing, an electronics package associated with the wearable devicehousing, and a glucose sensor associated with the earpiece housing. Theglucose sensor may be a part of the electronics package. The glucosesensor may be distal to the electronics package and proximate to theopening in the earpiece. The glucose sensor may be non-invasive and mayprovide continuous monitoring of glucose levels. The glucose sensor mayuse near infrared sensors.

According to another aspect, an earpiece may include an earpiecehousing, an electronics package associated with the earpiece housing,and a glucose sensor associated with the earpiece housing. The glucosesensor may be a part of the electronics package. The glucose sensor maybe distal to the electronics package and proximate to the opening in theearpiece. The glucose sensor may be non-invasive and may providecontinuous monitoring of glucose levels. The glucose sensor may use nearinfrared sensors.

According to another aspect, an earpiece includes an earpiece housing,an intelligent control disposed within the earpiece housing, and aglucose sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control. Theintelligent control may be configured to determine glucose levelsassociated with a user of the earpiece using the glucose sensor. Theearpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within theearpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to theintelligent control. The glucose sensor may be a non-invasive glucosesensor such as a near infrared glucose sensor. The earpiece housing maybe configured to position the glucose sensor against a wall of theexternal auditory canal.

According to another aspect, a method of glucose monitoring of anindividual using an earpiece includes providing the earpiece, theearpiece comprising an earpiece housing, an intelligent control disposedwithin the earpiece housing, and a glucose sensor operatively connectedto the intelligent control. The method may further include sensingglucose levels of the individual at an ear of the user using the glucosesensor of the ear piece. The method may further include wirelesslycommunicating a glucose level of the individual from the earpiece to amobile device using a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiecehousing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to theintelligent control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrated embodiments of the present invention are described in detailbelow with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein, and where:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a communication system inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of wireless earpieces in accordance with anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of wireless earpieces in accordance with anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of wireless earpieces in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a communication system inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a communication system in accordance withan illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The illustrative embodiments provide a device and system for detectingglucose in a user. The electronics package of wearable devices oftencontains sensors including temperature sensors, pulse oximeters,accelerometers, gyroscopes, altitude sensors, GPS chips, and so forth.The sensors may be utilized to sense any number of biometric readings orinformation, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood, or skinphysiology, or other biometric data.

One location that is used for the collection of biological informationis the ear and the auditory canal. The external auditory canal sits inclose proximity to the central nervous system and has a rich bloodsupply. For example, the superficial temporal artery, the deep auricularartery, the stylomastoid artery, and the posterior auricular artery allprovide the ear, ear canal, and inner ear with blood. Because the earhas an abundant and rich blood supply, it is a good location for thedetection and measurement of biologic compounds related to the blood.

One such compound found in the blood is glucose. Glucose is a product ofthe breakdown of carbohydrate rich foods and is the main source ofenergy used by the body. Glucose is regulated throughout the body by theproduction of insulin at the pancreas. When the amount of blood glucoserises, the pancreas releases insulin to help maintain proper bloodglucose levels. The inability to regulate blood glucose levels canresult in hypoglycemia (too little blood glucose) or hyperglycemia (toomuch blood glucose). This can be caused by a variety of factors, butprolonged variances in blood glucose are typically caused by theinadequate production of insulin or the body's cells improperlyresponding to the presence of insulin. In such cases, the glucose levelsof the blood begin to increase, causing any number of biological andmetabolic issues for the patient/user. This group of metabolic diseaserelated to insulin production and blood glucose levels is often referredto as diabetes.

It is, therefore, advantageous to monitor blood glucose levels in allusers, especially those diagnosed with, or having a history of,diabetes. Monitoring blood glucose can allow users to anticipate changesin blood glucose which may be indicative of diabetes. Additionally,those users who have been diagnosed with diabetes are required toconstantly measure their blood glucose and administer insulinaccordingly in an effort to keep blood glucose levels within a healthyrange. Historically, glucose monitoring methods have been invasive anddelayed. Often the monitoring methods require the user to prick theirskin and measure glucose levels through a drop of blood. However, astechnology related to blood glucose improves, more non-invasivetechniques for the measurement of blood glucose have been developed.

Recently, new technologies have been introduced for the detection ofblood glucose levels which do not require direct access to blood. Thesetechnologies include near Infra-red (near IR) detection, ultrasound,wave-modulated differential laser photothermal radiometry (WM-DPTR), anddielectric spectroscopy. In addition to being non-invasive, thesemethods provide a continuous approach to blood glucose monitoring, ascompared to the single measurement provided by the more invasivemethods. Adapting and employing these techniques and sensors in theblood rich environment of the ear and ear canal can provide continuous,non-invasive approach to monitoring blood glucose levels.

In one embodiment, a glucose sensor would be incorporated into thewireless earpieces. The wireless earpieces may include an earpiecehousing and a glucose sensor associated with the earpiece housing. Theglucose sensor would be positioned advantageously, such that when theuser places the wireless earpiece into the ear and ear canal, theglucose sensor is situated in position to best measure the blood glucoselevels of the user. The glucose sensor may be placed such that theportion of the sensor which may emit detection signals is positionedclosest to the blood supply of the user. The glucose sensor may bepositioned as proximate to the opening of the wireless earpieces aspossible while allowing for accurate glucose monitoring. In some cases,the glucose sensor may or may not be used in tandem with an includedelectronics packet. In some cases, the position for the best glucosemeasurement may require the glucose sensor to be positioned apart froman included electronics packet.

In another embodiment, a glucose sensor would be incorporated into anelectronics packet of wireless earpieces. The electronics packet mayinclude additional sensors and electronic equipment. The glucose sensorwould be positioned within the electronics packet such that the glucosesensor would be in contact with the outer wall of the wireless earpiecehousing and in a manner that allowed the glucose sensor direct access tothe user's ear or ear canal. Such position would allow the glucosesensor access to the blood supply of the user and the ability to measurethe user's glucose level.

FIG. 1 illustrates a set of earpieces 10 including a left earpiece 12Aand a right earpiece 12B. The left earpiece 12A has a housing or casing14A and the right earpiece 12B has a housing or casing 14B. A microphone70A is shown on the left earpiece 12A and a microphone 70B is shown onthe right earpiece 12B. Not shown in FIG. 1, one or both of theearpieces may include a glucose sensor. Where glucose sensors arepresent in both earpieces 10, glucose data from the different sensorsmay be compared to determine differences in sensed glucose data whichmay potentially be used to increase accuracy, and/or detect error.

FIG. 2 illustrates an earpiece 12 which may be a left earpiece or aright earpiece. One or more processors or other intelligent controls 30are shown disposed within the housing 14 of the earpiece. One or morewireless transceivers 34 are operatively connected to the processors 30.The term “processor” as used herein means a single processor or morethan one processor in operative communication. The processor may includea digital signal processor, a microprocessor and/or other types ofprocessors. The term intelligent control is used herein to encompass oneor more processors. The wireless transceivers 34 may include a BLUETOOTHtransceiver, an ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver, or type of radiotransceiver, a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver, orother type of transceiver. One or more external microphones 70 isoperatively connected to the processors 30 as are one or more internalmicrophones or bone microphones 71. A glucose sensor 60 is disposedwithin the housing 14 of the earpiece 12. The glucose sensor 60 isoperatively connected to the processor(s) 30 to communicate sensedglucose data sensed at the ear of a user of the earpiece to theprocessor(s) 30.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an earpiece. The earpiece mayinclude one or more sensors 32. The sensors may include one or more airmicrophones 70, one or more bone microphones 71, and one or moreinertial sensors 74, 76. Each of the one or more sensors 32 isoperatively connected to an intelligent control system 30. Theintelligent control system 30 may also be operatively connected to agesture control interface 36 which may include one or more emitters 82and one or more detectors 84. The gesture control interface 36 allows auser to interact with the earpiece through gestures or motions which aredetected by the gesture control interface and interpreted by theintelligent control system 30. One or more speakers 72 is operativelyconnected to the intelligent control system 30. One or more lightemitting diodes 20 are operatively connected to the intelligent controlsystem 30 that may be used to provide visual feedback indicative ofearpiece functionality or status. A radio transceiver 34 is shown aswell as a second transceiver 35 which may be an NFMI transceiver orother type of transceiver. A glucose sensor 60 is operatively connectedto the intelligent control system 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of an earpiece 12A positioned within theexternal auditory canal 40 of an individual using the earpiece 12A. Theearpiece 12A as shown isolates or serves as a barrier between theambient environment and the external auditory canal 40. A tympanicmembrane 42 is shown positioned at the end of the external auditorycanal 40. One or more glucose sensors 60A, 60B are present. The glucosesensor is placed in a position which provides access to a blood supplysuitable for using to determine glucose levels in the blood. Forexample, the glucose sensor 60A may be positioned proximate thesuperficial temporal artery near the superior wall of the externalauditory canal. The glucose 60B may be positioned proximate thesuperficial temporary artery and the stylomastoid artery near theinferior wall of the external auditory canal. It is contemplated thatthe glucose sensor may be positioned in other locations at or near theear as may be appropriate based on the configuration of the earpiecerelative to the arteries associated with the ear and/or nearby regions.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a system in accordance with anillustrative embodiment. In one embodiment, the communication system mayinclude one or more wireless earpieces 12A, 12B which may be worn by auser 102 and wireless device 104. The wireless earpieces 12A, 12B may bereferred to as a pair or set or singularly (wireless earpiece). In oneembodiment, the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B include a left earpiece anda right earpiece configured to fit into a user's 102 ears. The wirelessearpieces 12A, 12B are shown separately from their positioning withinthe ears of the user 102 for purposes of simplicity. The wirelessearpieces 12A, 12B may be configured to play music or audio, receive andmake phone calls or other communications, determine ambientenvironmental readings (e.g., temperature, altitude, location, speed,heading, etc.), read user biometrics and actions (e.g., heart rate,motion, sleep, blood oxygenation, calories burned, etc.). The wirelessearpieces 12A, 12B may also be fitted with a glucose sensor fordetecting blood glucose levels of the user 102. The wireless earpieces12A, 12B may having a housing sized and shaped to fit a portion of theearpiece housing into the external auditory canal. The earpiece housingmay be an ear bud type or style of housing

The wireless earpieces 12A, 12B may include interchangeable parts thatmay be adapted to fit the needs of the user 102. For example, sleevesthat fit into the ear of the user 102 may be interchangeable to find asuitable shape and configuration. The wireless earpieces 12A, 12B mayinclude a number of sensors and input devices including, but not limitedto, pulse oximeters, microphones, pulse rate monitors, accelerometers,gyroscopes, light sensors, global positioning sensors, glucose sensors,and so forth. Sensors of the wireless device 104 may also be configuredto wirelessly communicate with the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B.

The wireless device 104 may represent any number of wireless electronicdevices, such as smart phones, laptops, gaming devices, music players,personal digital assistants, vehicle systems, or so forth. The wirelessdevice 104 may communicate utilizing any number of wireless connections,standards, or protocols (e.g., near field communications, Bluetooth,Wi-Fi, ANT+, etc.). For example, the wireless device 104 may be a touchscreen cellular phone that communicates with the wireless earpieces 12A,12B utilizing Bluetooth communications. The wireless device 104 mayimplement and utilize any number of operating systems, kernels,instructions, or applications that may make use of the sensor datameasured by the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B. For example, the wirelessdevice 104 may represent any number of android, iOS, Windows, openplatform, or other systems. Similarly, the wireless device 104 mayinclude a number of applications that utilize the biometric data fromthe wireless earpieces 12A, 12B to display applicable information anddata. For example, the information (including, high, low, average, orother values) may be processed by the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B or thewireless device 104 to display heart rate, blood oxygenation, altitude,speed, distance traveled, calories burned, or other applicableinformation.

Sensor measurements made by either the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B,wireless device 104, or sensor devices of the user 102 may becommunicated with one another. The wireless device 104 is representativeof any number of personal computing, communications, exercise, medical,or entertainment devices that may communicate with the wirelessearpieces 12A, 12B.

The user 102 may also be wearing or carrying any number ofsensor-enabled devices, such as heart rate monitors, pacemakers, smartglasses, smart watches, bracelets (e.g., Apple watch, Fitbit, etc.), orother sensory devices that may be worn, attached to, or integrated withthe user 102. The data and information from the external sensor devicesmay be communicated to the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B.

The sensors of the wireless earpieces 12A, 12B may also be positioned atenantiomeric locations. For example, a number of colored light emittingdiodes may be positioned to provide variable data and information, suchas heart rate, respiratory rate, glucose levels, and so forth. The datagathered by the LED arrays may be sampled and used alone or in aggregatewith other sensors. As a result, sensor readings may be enhanced andstrengthened with additional data.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a communication system. Thecommunication system may receive at least glucose measurement 202 fromthe communication system. After receiving the glucose measurement 202,the communication system may compare the glucose measurement to athreshold biological glucose level 104. For example, the glucosemeasurement 202, may be compared to a threshold level for a user todetermine whether the glucose measurement exceeds the normal range forthat user 204. If the glucose measurement 202 is greater than or equalto the normal biological threshold for the user 204, the communicationsystem may be configured to provide the user with a warning, signal, orother indication that the glucose measurement is at or above thebiological threshold 206. If the glucose measurement is less than thebiological threshold, the communication system may be configured torecord the glucose measurement for the user 208. The glucose measurementis also recorded in the event the user is provided with a warning,signal or other indication 206, 208. The communication system may thenreceive another glucose measurement 202 to provide continuous feedbackto a user.

The illustrative embodiments are not to be limited to the particularembodiments described herein. In particular, the illustrativeembodiments contemplate numerous variations in the type of ways in whichembodiments may be applied. The foregoing description has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to bean exhaustive list or limit any of the disclosure to the precise formsdisclosed. It is contemplated that other alternatives or exemplaryaspects are considered included in the disclosure. The description ismerely examples of embodiments, processes or methods of the invention.It is understood that any other modifications, substitutions, and/oradditions may be made, which are within the intended spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. For the foregoing, it can be seen that the disclosureaccomplishes at least all of the intended objectives.

The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodimentsfor implementing the invention and is not intended to be limiting inscope. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of theinvention disclosed with greater particularity.

What is claimed is:
 1. An earpiece comprising: an earpiece housingconfigured as an ear bud and sized and shaped to fit a portion of theearpiece housing into an external auditory canal; an intelligent controldisposed within the earpiece housing; a glucose sensor operativelyconnected to the intelligent control, the glucose sensor configured toposition the glucose sensor against a wall of the external auditorycanal; wherein the intelligent control is configured to determineglucose levels associated with a user of the earpiece using the glucosesensor.
 2. The earpiece of claim 1, further comprising a wirelesstransceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wirelesstransceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control.
 3. Theearpiece of claim 2, wherein the glucose sensor is a non-invasiveglucose sensor.
 4. The earpiece of claim 3, wherein the glucose sensoris a near infrared glucose sensor.
 5. The earpiece of claim 4, whereinthe earpiece is a first earpiece within a set of earpieces comprisingthe first earpiece and a second earpiece.
 6. The earpiece of claim 5,wherein the first earpiece wirelessly communicates the glucose levelsassociated with the user of the first earpiece to the second earpiece.7. The earpiece of claim 6, wherein the first earpiece further comprisesa speaker operably coupled to the intelligent control and a microphoneoperably coupled to the intelligent control; wherein the intelligentcontrol disposed within the earpiece housing configured to play musicand/or audio.
 8. A method of glucose monitoring of an individual usingan earpiece, the method comprising: providing the earpiece, the earpiececomprising an earpiece housing configured as an ear bud and sized andshaped to fit a portion of the earpiece housing into an externalauditory canal, an intelligent control disposed within the earpiecehousing, and a glucose sensor operatively connected to the intelligentcontrol, the glucose sensor configured to position the glucose sensoragainst a wall of the external auditory canal; and sensing glucoselevels of the individual at an ear of the user using the glucose sensorof the ear piece.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprisingwirelessly communicating the glucose levels of the individual from theearpiece to a mobile device using a wireless transceiver disposed withinthe earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected tothe intelligent control.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the glucosesensor is non-invasive.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the glucosesensor provides continuous measurement.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the glucose sensor utilizes near infrared monitoring.
 13. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the earpiece if a first earpiece within a setof earpieces comprising the first earpiece and the second earpiece andwherein the method further comprises wireless communicating the glucoselevels of the individual from the first earpiece to the second earpiece.14. A method of glucose monitoring of an individual using a set ofearpieces, each of the earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, anintelligent control disposed within the earpiece housing, a transceiverand a glucose sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control,the glucose sensor configured to position the glucose sensor against awall of an external auditory canal, the method comprising: sensing afirst glucose level of the individual by a first of the earpieces at afirst external auditory canal of a first ear of the user using theglucose sensor of the first of the earpieces and a second glucose levelof the individual by a second of the earpieces at a second externalauditory canal of a second ear of the user using the glucose sensor ofthe second of the earpieces; communicating the sensed first glucoselevel from the first of the earpieces within the set of earpieces to thesecond of the earpieces within the set of earpieces by the transceiverof the first of the earpiece operatively connected to the intelligentcontrol; and comparing the sensed first glucose level from the first ofthe earpieces and the second glucose level of the second of theearpieces by the intelligent control of the second of the earpieces todetermine differences in the first glucose level and the second glucoselevel to increase accuracy and/or detect error in the first glucoselevel and the second glucose level.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising wirelessly communicating the at least one of the firstglucose level and the second glucose level of the individual from theearpieces to a mobile device using the wireless transceiver disposedwithin the earpiece housing of one of the each of the earpieces, thewireless transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the glucose sensor is non-invasive.17. The method of claim 14, wherein the glucose sensor providescontinuous measurement.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the glucosesensor utilizes near infrared monitoring.